- President Ranil Wickremesinghe unveils a significant educational initiative, presenting 200 smart classrooms and 2,000 tablet computers to schools in the Southern Province: Known as the Southern Province Smart Classroom Project, this endeavour, costing Rs. 300 million, aims to enhance learning environments: The project was initiated following a request from Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana.
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says although many countries prioritise the holding of an ‘international support conference’ after the end of a war, none of the leaders in Sri Lanka could convene one even after 15 years since the end of war: asserts an international support conference will be held covering the entire country under a SJB-rule, focusing on both the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
- National People’s Power MP Vijitha Herath urges the Supreme Court to dismiss a petition challenging the Election Commission’s plans for the 2024 Presidential election: Filed by businessman Chamindra Dayan Lenawa, the petition questions the President’s term length under Article 30(2): Herath argues the petition misinterprets the 19th Amendment, which reduced the term to five years: asserts the Election Commission must proceed with the election as scheduled for 2024.
- The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is intensifying scrutiny on parliamentarians for potential tax frauds under new anti-corruption laws mandating asset declarations: As part of IMF-mandated reforms, Sri Lanka aims to boost state revenue through tax rate hikes and broader tax networks: Despite surpassing first-quarter revenue targets by six percent, authorities stress the need to strengthen mechanisms against tax evasion to achieve the 2024 revenue goal of Rs. 4,106 billion.
- Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK Rohitha Bogollagama attends the Global Unity Dinner at The Dorchester Hotel: Organised by Regent Group, the event promotes peace and understanding: highlights Sri Lanka’s reconciliation efforts under President Ranil Wickremesinghe, urging diaspora support: praises Dr Selva Pankaj for initiatives like the Public Learn Education Platform in Sri Lanka and facilitated Pankaj’s acquisition of Sri Lankan citizenship.
- CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe expresses optimism about the Economic Transformation Bill, highlighting its potential economic benefits and measures to enhance financial discipline and curb corruption: asserts despite Covid’s impact on creditworthiness, successful policies and IMF disbursements of US$ 660 million signify progress: stresses the need for economically viable, transparent development projects and a focus on boosting exports for Sri Lanka’s economic resilience.
- Dr. CHUI Ho Kwong Samuel, Director of Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department, announces a collaborative agreement with Sri Lanka’s CEA and Chinese Academy of Sciences on water management: The MoU focuses on sharing advanced wastewater treatment technologies and expertise in pollution control: Hong Kong showcased innovations like seawater for toilet flushing at a workshop in Ratmalana, aiming to train Sri Lankan officials and improve air and water quality toward Sustainable Development Goals.
- Sri Lanka and India plan to establish a joint venture for a power grid connectivity project linking Anuradhapura to Chennai via an undersea transmission line: The initiative includes a 130 km overland transmission line in India and aims to utilise Sri Lanka’s renewable energy potential: The joint venture will manage the project and secure funding following the completion of the Detailed Project Report.
- Uma Kumaran, daughter of Sri Lankan refugees from Jaffna, makes history by becoming the first Tamil woman elected to the British Parliament for Stratford and Bow: Raised in London, she secured over 19,000 votes for the Labour Party, emphasising her family’s ties to trade unionism: pledges to represent her community, acknowledging their support and Labour values in her victory speech.
- Sprinter Aruna Darshana qualifies for Sri Lanka’s Men’s 400m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics after securing second place in the Bahamas with a personal best of 45.90 seconds: joins Tharushi Karunaratne and Nadeesha Lekamge on Sri Lanka’s athletics team: Darshana also won gold at the Belt and Road Invitational Athletics Championship, showcasing potential akin to Sugath Thilakaratne.
